Ninja Gaiden 4 Launches Today with New Protagonist and Near-Future Tokyo Setting

The legendary action franchise returned on October 21, 2025 with the launch of Ninja Gaiden 4, marking the series' first numbered entry in 13 years. Developed through a collaboration between series creator Team Ninja and Platinum Games (Bayonetta, Nier Automata), the game introduced an entirely new world set in a near-future Tokyo plagued by endless miasmic rain.

Players step into the role of Yakumo, a young ninja prodigy whose fate is intertwined with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa. The game maintains the series' hallmark high-speed ninja action while introducing new mechanics designed to push veterans to their limits while welcoming newcomers to rise to the legendary ranks of "Master Ninja."

Two Playable Protagonists

While Yakumo serves as the primary protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa is also fully playable throughout the campaign. More than half of the 15-20 hour story is played as Yakumo, but Ryu has dedicated segments accounting for roughly 7-9 hours of gameplay. Both characters feature distinct combat systems:

• Yakumo fights using "Bloodraven Form," a technique that manipulates his blood and enemies' blood to create powerful weapons that strike down multiple foes at once
• Ryu maintains his signature techniques including Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow, enhanced with new abilities called "Chikketsu Ninjutsu" (Blood Wedge Ninja Arts)

Set in a dystopian Tokyo consumed by supernatural forces following the return of the Dark Dragon, both protagonists confront mechanized soldiers and otherworldly creatures to free the city from a mysterious curse.

Difficulty Options for All Players

Ninja Gaiden 4 offers four difficulty settings:

• Hero: The easiest mode with optional Auto Evade and Auto Block assists
• Normal: Standard difficulty suitable for newcomers to the series
• Hard: Equivalent to standard difficulty in past Ninja Gaiden games, recommended for series veterans
• Master Ninja: Unlocked after completing the game, featuring more enemies and harder encounters earlier in the campaign

This approach ensures both series veterans and newcomers can find their preferred challenge level.

Reception and Awards

Ninja Gaiden 4 received generally positive reviews upon release, with many critics calling it a return to form for the series. Review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 84% of critics. In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a total score of 36 out of 40.

The game was nominated for Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2025, recognizing the successful collaboration between Team Ninja and Platinum Games.

Game Information

For more information, visit the official Ninja Gaiden 4 website.

For more classic franchise revivals, see Double Dragon Revive.